Utility companies like Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) frequently cause wildfires due to negligence – often from outdated equipment, poor maintenance, or failure to comply with safety regulations.
When power lines are not properly maintained, they can spark fires during dry conditions or high winds, leading to devastating wildfires. These fires can result in significant individual property damage, including the destruction of homes, vehicles, and personal belongings.
Business owners may also suffer severe financial losses due to property damage, lost income, and business interruption.
If you’ve been affected by a wildfire that PG&E caused, a skilled California wildfire lawyer can file a claim or lawsuit directly against the company for compensation.
Your wildfire attorney can also gather crucial evidence, such as fire reports, maintenance records, and witness testimony, to prove PG&E’s negligence. They will guide you through the legal process, whether it’s submitting a claim, negotiating a settlement, or pursuing a lawsuit in court.
With their legal knowledge and experience, you can recover damages for property repairs, business losses, emotional distress, and more, ensuring that you receive the full compensation you deserve.
What Are the Most Common Ways that PG&E Has Caused Wildfires?
PG&E has been responsible for numerous wildfires in California due to a combination of aging infrastructure, poor maintenance, and extreme weather conditions.
The company’s equipment failures have sparked some of the state’s most destructive fires, resulting in loss of life, property damage, and billions of dollars in liabilities.
One of the main ways PG&E has caused wildfires is through outdated power lines and equipment. Many of the company’s transmission lines are decades old, and when they fail, they can release sparks that ignite dry vegetation.
For example, the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history, resulted from a faulty transmission line that sparked a fire in Butte County, killing 85 people and destroying the town of Paradise.
Another major factor is PG&E’s lack of proper tree trimming and vegetation management. Power lines running through forested areas must be kept clear of overgrown trees and brush.
However, PG&E has often failed to remove hazardous vegetation, allowing trees to fall onto power lines during high winds, leading to fires. The company has been fined multiple times for not following state regulations on vegetation management, contributing to the risk of wildfires.
Extreme weather conditions, such as high winds and dry heat, also contribute to PG&E-related wildfires. When strong winds knock down power lines or cause them to sway and create sparks, fires can ignite quickly in dry conditions.
PG&E has sometimes shut off power to reduce wildfire risks, but these planned outages have been controversial, leaving millions of customers without electricity for extended periods.
Poor maintenance and delayed upgrades have further increased the risk of fires. Instead of replacing aging equipment, PG&E has often postponed necessary repairs to save money.
Investigations have found that the company neglected to fix known issues with its power grid, even after previous fires were linked to similar failures.
Due to its history of causing deadly wildfires, PG&E has faced lawsuits, criminal charges, and billions of dollars in settlements.
Pursuing a Settlement or Filing a Lawsuit Against PG&E for Compensation
Pursuing a settlement or filing a lawsuit in court against PG&E for wildfire damages, including personal property losses and business losses, involves several important steps.
The complicated process requires a lawyer who understands each phase and the necessary requirements to pursue compensation effectively.
- Consult an Experienced Wildfire Attorney: The first step is to retain an attorney who regularly handles wildfire claims and lawsuits against utility companies. An experienced wildfire lawyer can navigate the complex legal system for you. Many law firms offer free consultations, and some work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if you win the case.
- Collect Evidence: Before filing the lawsuit, you need to gather all evidence of the damage resulting from the wildfire. This includes photographs or videos of damaged property, business records showing lost income or business interruption, receipts for repairs, and any official reports from the fire department or other authorities. You may also need to show how PG&E’s equipment or negligence caused the fire, so keeping detailed records of the incident is critical.
- Determine the Legal Basis for the Lawsuit: Your attorney can determine the legal grounds for your lawsuit. In many cases, you’ll claim that PG&E’s negligence led to the fire, meaning they failed to properly maintain their equipment or prevent hazards that may have sparked a fire. Your wildfire lawyer can also investigate whether PG&E violated state or federal safety regulations.
- File the Lawsuit: Once your attorney has gathered all of the necessary documentation, they will file a formal complaint in the appropriate court. This document will outline the facts of the case, explain why PG&E is responsible for the damages, and specify the compensation you seek. This step officially starts the legal process and notifies PG&E of the lawsuit.
- Discovery Process: After the lawsuit is filed, both sides will go through a phase called discovery. During this process, each side exchanges evidence and may request additional documents or witness testimony. Your attorney will work to gather more information about PG&E’s role in causing the fire and build a stronger case for you.
- Negotiation or Trial: Many lawsuits settle before going to trial. If PG&E offers a settlement, your lawyer will negotiate on your behalf. If they cannot reach a fair settlement, the case may go to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the outcome.
- Collect Compensation: If the judge or jury decides in your favor or if you reach a settlement, PG&E will be required to compensate you for your property and business losses. This may include reimbursement for repair costs, business losses, and even punitive damages if PG&E’s actions were particularly negligent.
Filing a lawsuit against PG&E can be time-consuming and challenging, but with the right legal support, you can pursue the compensation you deserve for the damages resulting from their equipment.
Proving that PG&E Caused a Wildfire
In a lawsuit against PG&E for causing a wildfire that resulted in personal property damage or business losses, having the right types of evidence is crucial to building a strong case. The most important evidence helps prove that PG&E was directly responsible for the fire and the damages you suffered.
Visual evidence is one of the most powerful tools in a wildfire lawsuit. You should take clear, detailed photos or videos of the damage the fire caused to your property or business. This can include images of destroyed homes, burned vehicles, damaged structures, or anything else affected by the fire.
Videos and photos from before the fire, showing the condition of your property or business, can also be helpful in demonstrating the extent of the damage.
Official fire reports from fire departments, emergency services, or other authorities are also essential. These documents can provide valuable information about the origin and cause of the fire. If investigators determine that PG&E’s equipment, such as power lines or transformers, caused the fire, this evidence directly supports your claim.
Eyewitnesses who saw the fire or observed PG&E equipment failing can also play a critical role in your case. Statements from people who witnessed PG&E’s equipment malfunctioning or the fire starting can help demonstrate that the company was negligent.
Witnesses may include neighbors, workers in the area, or even firefighters who can testify about the cause of the fire and how it spread.
PG&E’s own maintenance records, safety inspections, and any prior complaints about their equipment can be vital. These records may show whether PG&E negligently failed to maintain their equipment or comply with safety regulations.
If PG&E had previously been aware of risks or hazards and did not act on them, this strengthens the argument that they were responsible for the fire.
If you own a business that suffered losses due to the fire, business records are important. These include income statements, tax records, and documents showing the financial effects of the fire on your operations.
Proof of lost revenue and the time it took to rebuild or reopen your business can help calculate compensation for lost income and other damages.
Finally, experts in fire investigation or electrical engineering can provide professional opinions about the cause of the fire and whether PG&E’s actions or negligence led to the disaster. Expert testimony can be especially useful in complex cases where the cause of the fire is disputed.
Gathering and organizing this evidence early in the lawsuit process will help you build a compelling case against PG&E. Each type of evidence plays a role in showing that PG&E is responsible for the wildfire and the resulting damage to your property or business.
Recoverable Compensation for Damages in a PG&E Wildfire
In a lawsuit against PG&E for a wildfire that caused personal property damage or business losses, the damages you may recover depend on the extent of your damages and the specifics of your case.
Below are the key damages wildfire victims may recover in a lawsuit against PG&E:
- Property Damage Compensation: This is one of the most common damages. If your home, personal belongings, or other property were destroyed or damaged by the fire, you can recover the cost of repairs or replacement. This includes the value of your home, cars, and any other property that was lost or harmed. In cases where your home is a total loss, compensation may cover the full replacement cost, allowing you to rebuild or buy a new home.
- Business Losses: If you own a business that was affected by the wildfire, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of income and other financial damages you incurred. This includes any revenue that your business lost due to the fire, as well as the costs associated with getting your business back up and running. Business owners may also seek compensation for the costs of repairs or rebuilding, as well as any increased operating expenses resulting from the disaster. If your business had to close for a period of time due to the fire, you may recover your lost profits.
- Emotional Distress and Pain and Suffering: In some cases, victims of wildfires may also be compensated for emotional distress resulting from the traumatic experience. If the fire caused significant mental anguish or suffering, compensation for pain and suffering may be awarded. This can include stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional tolls due to the fire – especially if it resulted in the loss of a home or livelihood.
- Punitive Damages: If PG&E’s actions were particularly reckless or negligent in causing the fire, the court may award you punitive damages. These damages are intended to punish PG&E for their behavior and to deter similar misconduct in the future. Punitive damages are typically awarded when a company’s actions go beyond simple negligence and involve gross negligence or willful disregard for safety.
- Attorney Fees and Court Costs: In some cases, if you win the lawsuit, PG&E may be required to pay for your legal fees and court costs. This can help offset the expenses of pursuing a lawsuit, making it easier for victims to seek compensation without worrying about upfront legal costs.
Recovering compensation in a lawsuit against PG&E involves proving the company’s responsibility for the fire and the damages you suffered. Depending on the case, you may receive financial reimbursement for property damage, lost business income, emotional distress, and more.
Call an Experienced Wildfire Lawyer About your Case Today
If you sustained individual property damage or business losses because of a wildfire that PG&E caused, you have legal options available.
A skilled wildfire lawyer can determine what those options are and take the appropriate steps on your behalf. If PG&E refuses to offer you fair settlement compensation, your wildfire attorney can litigate your case to a resolution in the state court system.